In Seattle, the Washington State Patrol (WSP) serves as the central statewide repository for all Police Traffic Collision Reports (PTCR)—whether your crash was investigated by the Seattle Police Department (SPD) on city streets or by WSP State Troopers on I-5, I-90, SR-520, or SR-99. You can download your official report online for $10.50 through the WSP WRECR portal within 5 to 14 business days.
Seattle Crash Report Quick Reference
| Retrieval Channel | Jurisdiction | Cost | Portal / Office Address | Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSP WRECR Portal (Online) | All SPD, WSP & King County crashes | $10.50 | wsp.wa.gov (WRECR Portal) | 5–14 business days |
| SPD Public Disclosure Portal | SPD incident notes, 911 audio & bodycam | Free (Electronic) | seattle.gov/police | 2–6 weeks |
| WSP Civilian Self-Report (OMVCR) | Police did NOT respond (injury or >$1,000) | Free to file | wsp.wa.gov/driver/collision-records | Must file within 4 days |
Step 1: Download Your Report via WSP WRECR vs. SPD
- Get the Official Collision Report ($10.50 via WSP WRECR): Because SPD uploads all completed traffic collision reports to the state database under RCW 46.52.060, the fastest way to get your diagram and fault coding is through the Washington Requests for Electronic Collision Records (WRECR) portal at wsp.wa.gov/driver/collision-records. Search by Collision Report Number (a 7-digit state number starting with
Eor3) or by driver name and date. - Get SPD Bodycam Video & CAD Logs (Seattle Police Portal): If you only have a Seattle Police Incident Number (formatted like
2026-XXXXXX) or want the officer's body-worn video and 911 CAD logs, submit a public records request through the Seattle Public Records Request Center at seattle.gov/police (or visit SPD Records at 610 5th Ave., Seattle, WA 98104; Phone: 206-684-5454).
Step 2: How to Read Your Washington Police Traffic Collision Report (PTCR)
When reviewing your Washington PTCR PDF, check these three fields first:
- Unit 1 vs. Unit 2 Assignment: In Washington's SECTOR reporting system, Unit 1 is almost always designated by the investigating officer as the primary contributing (at-fault) driver.
- Contributing Circumstances (Boxes 1–3 per Unit): On the right side of the form, officers enter numeric codes from the Washington Police Traffic Collision Report Instruction Manual—such as Code
1(Under Influence of Alcohol/Drugs), Code2(Exceeded Stated Speed Limit), Code4(Failed to Grant Right of Way to Vehicle), Code6(Followed Too Closely), or Code32–35(Driver Distraction / Cell Phone). - Washington's Pure Comparative Fault Rule (RCW § 4.22.005): Washington is a Pure Comparative Negligence state. Even if the PTCR assigns you 75% of the blame, you can still legally recover 25% of your damages from the other driver.
Step 3: Mandatory 4-Day Civilian Collision Report (RCW § 46.52.030)
If neither Seattle Police nor Washington State Patrol responded to your crash and filed a PTCR, RCW § 46.52.030 requires every involved driver to file an Online Motor Vehicle Collision Report (OMVCR) with the Washington State Patrol within 4 days if the crash resulted in any bodily injury/death OR $1,000 or more in property damage to any one person's property. You can submit your civilian report online for free at wsp.wa.gov/driver/collision-records.
Listed as "Unit 1" with a Contributing Circumstance code on your Seattle or WSP collision report? Get a free legal review at submitaccident.report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why didn't my Seattle Police Case Number (2026-XXXXXX) work on the WSP WRECR portal?
The number on your SPD business card (2026-XXXXXX) is Seattle's internal CAD Incident Number, whereas the state PTCR uses a 7-character State Collision Number (usually starting with E). On the WSP WRECR portal, search using Driver First/Last Name + Crash Date instead of the SPD Incident Number.
Does Washington have no-fault PIP medical coverage?
Yes—unless you signed a written waiver rejecting it, Washington auto insurance policies automatically include Personal Injury Protection (PIP) under RCW § 48.22.085 (providing at least $10,000 in medical coverage and $200/week in wage loss regardless of who is listed as Unit 1 on the police report).